St. Paul daily globe., 1887-06-28
NO. 179.

lIdI tuere are circumstances pOlQL 10
his guilt and prove it, as 1t says
Parsons dwelt upon the fact that the
jury had gone into the box with opinions,
or impressions against Mr.. Sharp, butt
nevertheless the defendant had right
to expect that they would do what they
had sworn to do, find a verdict accord
ing to the evidence. He said, ''You:
should remember that you are not try
ing Pearson, Miller, Fullgraff, or any
OF the twenty-five indicted aldermen5
You are trying Jacob Sharp for de-.
bauching Aid. Fullgraff, and it Isl
charged that he was the arch conspira-
tor, the principal and agent in this ae-
tion.
Mr.. Parsons was strongly opposed to.
the reading of Mr. Sharp's testimony
before the investigating committeey
thus making him,
CONTRARY TO LAW,
a witness against himself. .sBut under
all the disadvantages surrounding him.
he denied that he had any connection
with the $500,000 which the prosecutions
say was corruption fund. He will put
Mr.. Bliss on the stand to tell who advised
Mr. Sharpe to testify, and will say that,s
after consulting with the most eminent
lawyers, they all agreed that what he
said could not be used against him. The,
prosecution say there was an agreement
between Sharp and the aldermen. They
have not proved it. The law says yon,
cannot convict on the uncorroborated
evidence of an accomplice. Where in
all these cases is the cOrrobOratiOn OF
the infOrmer?" Mr.. Parsons argued
that all the sums alleged to have been.
paid out as corruption fund did not
agree with the proof offered by the
prosecution, which must be accepted by.
the jury as proof of innocence. The
speaker cOntended that the testimony
OF the legislative clerk, that Sharp
offered him 5000 to interpolate certain
words in the street railroad bill, was
produce the bill itself from Albany and
prove that Sharp's contention was that
there was something in the bill that
ought to have been taken out.
81 SHALL" continued counsel. submit a
witness to you who knows all about the
transactions connected with the Broad
way enterprise down to the meeting Of
the board of aldermen. shall have him
tell you the story cOnnectedly and not
dlsconnectedly, as the prosecution did.
In reference to the preparations for the
early morning meeting, there was a
great deal of romance INDUCED in about
it," Mr.. Parsons concluded his address
with an appeal to the jury not to be in
f1uenced by anything but the evidence
in determining their verdict. He had
spoken for almost five hours. The first
witness called for the defense was John
M. Scribner, of Robinson, Scribner 81
Bright, counsel for the Broadway SUR
face road. He began to give the history
of the efforts made to get franchise for.
Broadway railroad, but was inter-
rupted by an objection from Assistant
District Attorney Nicol, who claimed
that the people had put in all the evil
dence necessary on that point. Charles
FL. Hooper was then called and produced
the railroad bill of 1884 and its veto by
Gov. Cleveland. Charles R. Dayton,
journal clerk of the assembly, gave the
history of the introduction and passage
of bill of 1884. He was on the stand
when the hour of adjournment arriyed.'
A Queer Case.
NEW YORK, June 27.-John Me-
Kenna. aged twenty seven years, was
brought into the Bedford avenue police
station, Williamsburg, late last night
suffering from frightful stab wounds on
the knee cap of the right leg and arms
and body. He said that he had been
standing on barge at the foot of North
Second street talking to the captain
when he saw stranger come down the
street. The stranger went to another,
barge ana began undressing himself.
McKenna concluded that something
was wrong and ran over and asked the
man II he was going to commit suicide.
He replied, '.YeS, and / am going to
drown myself. l have no more relatives
or friends and am done with the world.',
With these words he pulled NEcKenna
aside and was about to make the fatal
leap when McKenna pulled him back
and threw him ON the deck of the
barge. A fierce fight ensued, which
ended in the would-be suicide reaching
in his pocket and bringing forth lalge;
knife. With this he stabbed McKennS
in frightful manner. He then picked
up his clothes and ran away. going I'M
the direction of the North Third street
dock. 1t is not known who the man
WAS.